Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-01


"lt mayn't matter much 10 you,
Tad, he said, very tenderly and rev.
erently, "but It matters c'nsider'ble "a
Him that's watchin' yOu f,om up aloft,
Tor II He hadn't some sort of sailin'
orders for you, He nevor'd "a sot you
Hdrift on this here sea of life. Now,
my lad" Captain Flagg continued.
impressively, "only for your overhaul
In and runnin' down that privatcerin'
chap under false colors, I'd have lost
the ships papers, and nigh forty dol
lars in clean cash, to say nothin' of the
good turn you did Polly here, this
mornin', which | amt like to forget
And, summin' it all up" said the Cap
tain, patting blushing Tad on the
shoulder, 1--WE made up my mind to
give you
'No, sir" interrupted Tad, with a
decisive shake of the head, 81 didn't
want any thing for what I've done"
''Io give you-a chance aboard the
''Mary ito be-e-e-e gallant
sail-yer bo-o-o-o-y.'" Trolling out tho
concluding words, which were n re-
miniscence Of some old sea-song, IN a
deep voice, that might have come from
his cavernous boots, the Captain leaned
back in his chair, and beamed
benevolently upon Tad, who did not
seem quite as much overcome by the
magnitude of the offer as one might at
first suppose.
"I'm ever so much obliged, Capt'n
Flagg," faltered Tad. conscious that
Polly was waiting for his answer, with
look Of pleased expectancy in her
bright face, "but I'm afraid"-
That you'll be sea-sickP Oh, that's
nothing-you'll get right overit, " broke
In Polly. with impctuous assurance.
And so well assured did both father and
daughter seem to feel that Tad would
jump at the preferred honor, that Tad's
haif-uttered refusal died away on his
lips.
81 began to the very sheerpole N.Y.
sell" explained the Captain, in the
fulness Of his heart. "and, when l was
your size, was raftin' logs 10 a mill;
then / pulled bow-oar in gund'low.
and after I'd gone two or three trips 10
the Banks, l shipped as fo'mast hand
In a coastin' vessel. ! was GOOD
many years workin' myself from the
fo'c'sle 10 the quarter-deck, " said Cant
ain Flagg, with a solemn shake of his
head. "but ! doneit, and now I'm c'm-
mander and owner Of a quarter of tho
Mary j."
IL good Captain Flagg had been
master OF two-thousand-ton AL full
rugged clipper, be could not have
spoken with more conscious pride than
In this simple narration, and after re-
garding him with admiiing awe, as one
TO whom the WONDER and mysteries Of
ihe sea were an open book, Tad glanced
suriously around the cabin.
IL was quaint little interior, with
eurtained berth on either side. and n
state-room. rather larger than good !
sized dIy-goodS box, at the back Of the |
steps leading down from the deck. !
which was occupied for the present by /
Miss Polly Flagg. who was making her
vacation voyage with her father, as a
reward Of merit forimprovement in her
studies at the Bixport town school. The
main-mast, which ran up through the
cabin foor and roof about midway, had
nails driven in It ON which were
hung the Captains oil-clothes and Pol
iy's big sun-bonnet. A sort 0f folding
table, attached 10 the after-part Of the
mast by hinge, could be turned up
ont OF the way when not in use. A
dingy-faced clock. like a big letter o.
looked down from the wall. while OBJ
poslte was highly-colored llthograph
representing the once famous clipper
''Dreadnought" plowing through very
green seas under very blue sky.
There was no carpet on the floor.
Fhich, however, was scrupulonsly
lean, while three chairs. In various
lagos Of dilapldaiion. composed the
'ntlre stock Of furniture; but TO Tad II
vas one Of the most delightful places
Imaginable, and he ionged for bed-time
o come, 80 that he could stow himself
way "a the little berth which had heen
sslgned 70 him by Captain Flagg.
An hans on deckr' grayoly an
vnneed the Captain, ~ the cliy clocks
lraek one,